Tick season is fast approaching, and knowing the risks and dangers that come with each tick species in your area is certainly something to pay attention to.
1) Deer Ticks (also knowns as Black-Legged Ticks)
Identifiable traits:
- reddish/brown coloring
- Black dorsal shield
- Usually found in forests or borders of forests and tall grasslands
Facts & Dangers:
- Very common in the U.S.
- Active mostly October-May
- Known for carrying and transmitting Lyme Disease
Identifiable Traits:
- reddish/brown coloring
- Medium-sized
- Females have a white dot on their dorsal shield
Facts & Dangers:
- Mostly active April-October
- Known to sometimes cause an allergy to red meat in bitten humans
Identifiable Traits:
- Largest common tick
- Brown coloring
- Ornate dorsal shield
- Usually found in low brush or tall grass
Facts & Dangers:
- Feeds on both dogs and humans (will usually bite the head area)
- Mostly active March-September
- Can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Identifiable Traits:
- Very Common in the U.S.
- Small with an elongated body
- reddish/brown coloring
- Generally found wherever dogs live
Facts & Dangers:
- Feeds on both dogs and humans
- Mostly active March-April
- Can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
How can you protect yourself and your family from ticks?
One way you can prevent ticks from biting you and your family and transmitting diseases is to check for ticks whenever you come home from spending time outside during tick-active months. Catching the tick before it latches on is ideal, and catching it early is important!
Another solution is to sign up for tick control services. This will be particularly important if you live in a tick-friendly environment. Pure Solutions has family-safe, all-natural tick control services that you can sign up for today to help keep your family and pets safe!
Sources:
TickEncounter, https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/.
“The Tickcheck Tick Identification Guide.” TickCheck, https://www.tickcheck.com/info/tick-identification.
